Signaling apparatus for railroad crossings



April 14, 1925.

E. S. PEARCE SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILROAD CROSSINGS Filed March 1.2 1924 Aip ah April 14, 1925. I 1,533,513

E. s. PEARCE SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILROAD CROSSINGS Filed March 12 1924 I s sneetai suiu z WWW: g'noeuto'r,

April .14, 1925. 1,533,513

E. S. PEARCE SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILROAD CROSSINGS Filed March 12, 1924 5 Shuts-Shut 5 a m F) ,9

Faye/2e 122/]086 krleazz'e I futon 101 Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE.

SIGNALING- APPARATUS FOR RAILROAD C ROSSIN GS.

Application filed March 12, 1924. Serial No. 698,576.'

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE SYLVESTER PEARCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Signaling Apparatus for Railroad Crossings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signaling apparatus for railroad crossings, and its objects are to provide means whereby a signal will be given when a train is approaching the crossing, which will not interfere with the regular signaling system of the railroads, and to provide signaling apparatus which may be used for either highway or track crossings.

These objects, ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of the electrical connections of my improved signaling apparatus,

Figure 2 a plan view of a switch which forms a part of my invention, certain of the parts being omitted,

Figure 3 a section on line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 a right hand end view of Figure 3,

Figure 5 a fragmentary section on line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 a side elevation of a lamp constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 7 a side view of Figure 6,

Figure 8 an enlarged section on line 83 of Figure 6, and

Figure 9 a section on me 8.

I have illustrated my improved signaling apparatus as applied to a railroad track crossing but it may be used equally well for signaling at highway crossings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates one set of tracks, 2 another set of tracks crossing the first set. My improved apparatus includes a lamp 3 placed near the crossing so as to be visible by a train approaching the crossing on either of the tracks. This lamp 3 is illuminated by a cut-in switch 4 on track 1 or a similar cut-in switch 5 on track 2. As the train leaves the crossing, lamp 3 is extinguished by a cut-out switch line 9-9 of Figand other advantageous I mounted in the casing and provided 6 on track lor a similar cut-out switch 7 on track 2.

Lamp 3 includes a post 8 having ,a support 9 to which a casing 10- is attached by screws or otherwise. The casing is provided with a pair of compartments 11 and 12 having its opposite sides 13 facing in the direction of track 1 and its opposite sides 14 facing in the direction of track 2. Compartment 11 is provided with safe color lenses 15, preferably green, on sides 13 and danger color lenses 16, preferably red, on sidesIl i. danger color. lenses 17,.preferably red, on sides 13 and safe color lenses 18, preferably green, on sides 14. This disposition of the lenses provides a safe and danger color lens on each side of the casing and facing in the direction of the tracks. If a train is approaching the crossing on track 1 either'a danger or safe signal may be seen on the lamp. Likewise if a train is approaching the crossing. on track 2 either a danger or safe color signal may be seen, the character of the signal depending on the train which approaches the crossing first. A bulb 19 in compartment 11 is electrically connected with cut-in switch 4' and cut-out switch 6011 track 1, and a bulb 20 in'compartment 12 is electrically connected with cut-in switch 5 and cut-out switch 7 on track 2.

The cut-in switches and 5 and the cutout switches 6 and 7 are similar in constructionbut'the cut-out differ fromthe cut-in switches in having oneless contact. I have therefore illustrated but one switch and a description of this will suflice for all four.

The switch includes a casing 21 having a cover 22 provided with a boss 23 in which a plunger 24 slides. A rock shaft 25, having a plunger-engaging arm 26 keyed thereto, is with a lever 27 which isconnected to a switch knife 28 by a pin and slot connection 29. A

spring 30 is interposed between the pin and slot connection and the other end of the lever for keeping the switch knife in open and closed position. Switch knife 28 is pivoted at 31 and has its other end 32 electrically connectedto lamp 3 and adapted to engage either of contacts 33 and 34 which are insulated from the casing. A solenoid 35 is connected to switch knife 28 by a pin and slot connection 36 and is electricall connected with end 32 of the switch knife.

lVhen a train approaches the crossing the Compartment 12 is provided with train wheel 37 will engage plunger 24 and force it downward. This movement will cause end 32 of the switch knife to move out of engagement with contact 33 and into engagement with contact 34. The operation and construction of switches 4,5, 6 and 7 are similar to that above described with the exception that in switches .6 and 7 con.- tact 33 is omitted.

The electrical connections between the switches 4, 5, 6 and 7 and bulbs 19 and 20 are as follows: One end of bulb 19 is connected to contact 34 by a line 38. The other end is connected to switch knife 28 through a line 39, an electrical source 40 and a line 41. One end of bulb 20 is similarly connected to contact 34 of switch 5 by a line 4.2 and the other end to switch knife 28 through line 43, source 40 and line 4A. When end 32 is caused to engage contact 34 in either of the switches 4 and 5, either bulb 19 or 20 will be illuminated.

The electrical connections between the cut-in and cut-out switches 4 and 6, and 5 and 7 are as follows: Contact/34 of switch 6 is electrically connected to one end of solenoid 3-5 of switch 4 by a line 45, source 40, line 41 and a line 46. The otherend of solenoid of switch 4 is connected with switch knife 28 bf switch 6 by a line 47. Assuming that switches 4 and 6 are open, when in the position shown, and closed when end 32 is in engagement with contact 34,

, when switch 6 is closed, solenoid 35 of switch 4 will be energized and switch 4 opened. Solenoid 35 of switch 6 has one end connected to line 47 and the other end to contact 33 by a line 48. After switch 4 has been opened, that is end 32 brought into engagement with contact 33, solenoid 35 of switch 6 will be energized and the switch opened. Thus the switches 4 and 6 are brought back to their normal osition after the train has passed the crossing and bulb '19 extinguished. The connections between switches 5 and 7 are similarto the connections between switches 4 and 6.

In operation, if a train approaches the crossing on track 1 in the direction of the arrow, the wheel 37 of the train will force plunger 24 downward to bring end 32 of switch 4 into engagement with contact 34. Bulb 19 will be illuminated to give a danger signal through the lenses 16 facing in the direction of track 2 and a safe signal through the lenses 15 facing the direction of track 1. Spring 30 will keep switch 4 in closed position. After the train has passed the crossing, cut-out switch 6 will be actuated through the medium of plunger 24 so that its end 32 will engage contact 34.

This will energize solenoid 35 of switch 4 and open it, that is, bring end 32 into en-. gagement with contact 33. Bulb 19 will be extinguished and solenoid 35 of cut-out switch 6 will be energized so as to open the switch, that is bring end 32 out of engagement from contact 34. The switches 4 and 6 are now in their normal position and bulb 19 extinguished and ready to give a signal of another approaching train. If a train is approaching the crossing on track 2, switches 5 and 7 and bulb 2O co-operate with each other in a similar manner to switches 4 and 6 and bulb 19 to give a danger signal in the direction of track 1 and a safe signal in the direction of track 2 through the lenses 17 and 18.

With the above described apparatus, sig nals of an approaching train are given at a crossing without interfering with the tracks of the railroad which are in-circuit with "the regular signaling s stems. .When the apparatus is used at hig way crossings duplicate switches 5 and 7 and bulb '20 may alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Signaling apparatus for railroad crossings including a lamp bulb; a cut-in switch on one side of the crossing electrically connected for illuminating the lamp bulb and adapted to be closed by a moving train; a cut-out switch on the other side of the crossing electrically connected for opening the cut-in switch and adapted to be closed by the moving train, and means electrically connected with the cut-in switch for opening the cut-out switch after the cut-in switch is opened.

2. Signaling apparatus for railroad crossings including a lamp bulb; a cut-in switch on one side of the crossing electrically connected for illuminating the lamp bulb and adapted to be closed by the wheels of anioving train; a cut-out switch on the other side of the crossing electrical-l connected for opening the cut-in switc and adapted to be closed by, the wheels of the moving train, and means electrically connected withthe cut-in switch for opening the cut-out switch after the cut-in switch is opened. I

3. Signaling apparatus for railroad crossings including a lamp bulb; a plunger disposed adjacent the railroad track and adapted to be moved by the wheels of the train; a cut-in switch on one side "of the the plunger for closing the switch; a cut-out switch on the other side of the crossing electrically connected for opening the cut-in switch and adapted to be closed by the wheels of a train, and means electrically connected with the cut-in switch for opening the cut-out switch after the cut-in switch is opened. 1

4. Signaling apparatus for railroad crossings including a lamp bulb; a plunger disposed adjacent the railroad track and adapted to be moved by the wheels of a train; a'cut-in switch on one side of the crossing electricall connected for illumi- 15 nating the lamp bu b; means connected with the-plunger for closing the switch; a solenoid for opening the switch; a cut-out switch on the other side of the crossing electrically connected with the solenoid and adapted to be closed by the wheels of the 20 train, and means electrically connectedwith the cut-in switch for opening the cut-out switch after the cut-in switch is opened.

In testimony whereof have signed my name to this specification in the two subscribing witnesses.

EUGENE SYLVESTER PEARCE. WVitnesses':

ELIZABETH GARBE, CHAS. E. .Po'rrs.

presence of 25 

